President Donald Trump’s administration announced Wednesday that it will begin considering “antisemitic activity” on social media and incidents of harassment toward Jewish people as grounds for denying immigration benefits.
According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the policy applies to green card applicants, foreign students, and individuals affiliated with educational institutions “linked to antisemitic activity.” The guidance takes effect immediately.
The move follows a Department of Homeland Security proposal requiring applicants to submit social media handles. Critics argue it expands surveillance of immigrants already legally in the country and raises free speech concerns. Social media monitoring has been a growing practice since the Obama administration and expanded under Trump’s first term.
The policy does not define “antisemitism” or name targeted institutions. USCIS stated it would treat content supporting or promoting groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad as a negative factor in immigration decisions. One student, Mahmoud Khalil, recently had his green card revoked over protest activity deemed antisemitic by the administration.
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